Separator



R. C. ALAND SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l uemiow:

i 1931- R. c. ALAND 1,325,990

} SEPARATOR Filed Jan.- 18, 1926 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD C. ALAN D, CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO WILLIAM EDGAR BAKER AND GEORGE ALTON FRANTZ, TRUSTEES OF THE WEB ENGINEERING COMPANY, Oil! CLEVELAND; OHIO SEPARA'IOR Application filed January 18, 1820. Serial li 'o. 81,987.

This invention relates to a novel and improved means for utilizing the exhaust steam from a steam engine, or motor and more particularl to such a means adapted for use in connection with a steam operated vehicle,

' such as an automobile or boat. The exhaust steam from a motor is mixed with oil which has been picked up by the steam during its travel through the motor.

According to my invention I provide a novel means for separating the oil and water from the steam so that the steam when condensed may be returned to the generator or reservoir from which the generator is sup- 1g plied.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a selected embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention as applied to a vehicle, the outlines of the condenser being shown dotted.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the separating mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on the same plane as Fig. 2, but showing certain parts in a difierent position.

Fig. 4.- is a diagram showing a use to which my invention may be applied.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates an exhaust from a steam engine or motor which maybe of any desired form. It is to be understood that my invention may be employed with any type of found to be adaptable. The exhaust 1 leads to a condenser2 of-any suitable type comprising a plurality of tubes through which steam and water may pass in the usual manner. I have shown this condenser as being of a form resembling an automobile radiator, although this form is taken merely as illustrative.

Disposed behind the condenser is a fan 3 mounted upon a shaft 4 and driven by a steam motor 5. Any suitable form of motor may be employed in this combination, but I pre fer to employ a turbine 6 having buckets 7. This turbme is received within a casing 8 and it will be noted that the buckets are spaced from the walls of the casing at 9. By this engine and in any steam system wherein it is trifu gal force against the walls of t arrangement the steam may still enter the' casing and operate the turbine even though water may be frozen upon the buckets. The

space 9 is sufiicient so that there is no danger of the buckets being frozen to the casing and thus causing'the turbine to stick. Any water which may be frozen to the buckets will ra ldly melt under the action of the steam.

team is led to the turbine from the exhaust by means of the connection 10. This connection is bellied out as shown and in this bellied out portion is disposed a member 10' in the form of a screw whereby the steam entering the connection 10 is forced to take .a spiral path. From the connection 10 the steam passes through the De Laval expanding nozzles 11 to the buckets of the turbine.

Supported beneath the connection 10, the bellied portion of which is preferably disposed substantially horizontal, is the container 12 having its top provided with a screen 13. In the bottom of the container is an outlet 14 controlled by a valve 15 operated through a float 16 by suitable linkage 17. Disposed on the side of the container 12 is an outlet 18 controlled by a valve 19 operated by a thermosensitive means exemplified by the plurality ofexpansion elements 20. This particular thermosensitive control is well 21 t0 the condenser 2 and after passing there- .through it is led by means of the return 22 back to the reservoir 23. This reservoir is connected by pipe 24 to the steam generator 25- from which steam is supplied to the engine or motor 26. The exhaust steam from this engine or motor passes through the exhaust 1 and thus to the connection 10 and motor 5.

In operation steam passes through the exhaust 1 and as it enters the spiral pathway provided by the member 10' the water and oil therein will be thrown outwardly by cene connection and will fall through the screen 13 into the container 12. The oil will float on top of the water in the container as will be evident and the approximate water line and oil line are shown in Fig. 2, and it will be seen that the valves are so arranged that the outlet 14 will be closed until a substantial amount of liquid has accumulated in the container. Then the valve 15 will be opened and a certain amount of water will escape through the 011tlet 14, this outlet discharging" to any suitable place. so placed that the valve chamber will be normally filled with oil, this oil being at a temperature which is insufficiently high to cause the valve 19 to be'closed. However, as the oil is permitted to escapethrough the outlet 18 steam will ultimately enter the chamber of the valve and this steam being at a temperature higher than the oil the thermosensitive elements 20 will expand and close the valve 19. The oil and water will then again accumulate to a level where the valve 15 will be opened, and then the operation will be re peated. The eflect of this arrangement is to keep the oil and water levels substantially constant. Both outlets are normally opened a sufii'cient amount to permit substantially constant flow of water and oil therefrom.

After the oil is separated from the steam. the steam itself passes through the De Laval expanding nozzles 11 and to the turbine as previously noted. The fan 3 directs a current of air through the tubes of the condenser thus aiding in the cooling of the condenser and in the condensing of the steam therein.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing the advantages of the invention and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a chamber, a steam line arranged above said chamber and having an opening communicating with said chamber, a screen for said opening, a spiral in said line above said opening. a float pivoted at the side of the chamber, linkage pivoted to the-bottom of said chamber and to said float, a valve pivoted to a part of said linkage and controlled by said float, thermosensitive means arranged outside of said chamber and at the side thereof, a fluid line communicating with said thermosensitive means and said chamber, and a valve controlled by said thermosensitive means.

2. In combination, a chamber, a steam line arranged above said chamber and havin an opening communicating with said cham r, a screen for said opening, a spiral in said line above said opening, a float pivoted at the side of the chamber, linkage pivoted to the bottom of said chamber and to said float, an outlet at the bottom of said chamber, a valve for said outlet and pivoted to a part of said link- The valve controlling the outlet 18 is assaseo age and controlled by said float, a second outlet at the side of said chamber, a normally open valve for said second outlet, and thermosensitive means for controlling the operation of said last named valve.

RICHARD O. ALAND. 

